Suture dispenser



Jan. 25, 1966 c. F. HORENE 3,231,215

SUTURE DISPENSER Filed Nov. 14, 1963 IN VEN TOR.

(1)72 [/5 f 19 00/146 BY & Arraewx United States Patent 3,231,215 SUTURE DISPENSER Cyrus F. Horine, Medical ArtsBldg. Baltimore 1, Md. Filed Nov. 14, 1963, Ser. No. 323,633 3 Claims. (Cl. 242-446) The present invention relates to a suture dispenser and in particular to a dispenser that will be capable of handling a number of different types of suturepackages.

Different suture manufacturers usevarious type packages, and also a single manufacturer may use differenttype packages for different types of sutures.

At present the tendencyistopackage-sutures on reels or bobbin-like cylinders and in normal use the suture is pulled from the reel in a: free hand. method and cut oif to length and the reel is laid aside. time in getting thesuture ready for use and at the same time it is most inconvenient.

The primary object ofthe invention is to provide a suture dispenser that will accommodate a number of suture packages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a dispenser of such size and shape as to conveniently fit into the palm of the hand.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispenser in which the suturepackage may be easily and quickly inserted. and readyfor use and one inwhich the.

tensiononthe. suture may be controlled bythe grip placed on the dispenser.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a.

dispenser that will have a minimum of parts.

- While several objects of the invention have been pointed out, other objects, uses and advantages may be referred to, or become apparent as the nature ofthe invention is more fully disclosed, which consists .of its novel construction and arrangement of its several parts as pointed out in the written descriptionalong with the accompanying drawings, in. which:

FIGURE 1 is a sideview in elevation ofthe dispenser.

FIGURE 1A is a view in elevation showing a rigid reel type suture package.

FIGURE 2 is an elevational end'view of the dispenser looking toward the .left.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken-on line 3-3 of FIGURE 2, showing a cylindrically wound suture package in place therein.

FIGURE 3A isan. elevational. view of a cylindrical type suture package.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of the dispenser taken on line 44 of FIGURE 1 and without the suture package.

FIGURE 4A is a view in elevation of a flexible reel type suture package.

FIGURE 43 is an enlarged sectional View of the flexible reel type package shown in FIGURE 4A.

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of a stamping from which the dispenser is made.

Like numerals are use-d throughout the several views to point out like and similar parts therein.

The dispenser is preferably constructed of a single stamping as shown in FIGURE 5 having major portions 10, 12, 14, I6, 18 and 20, all of which will be later referred to in describing the final form of the dispenser. The final form of the dispenser is shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 3 and 4. The stamping as a whole is indicated by the letter A, and is bent along the area C to provide a resilient hinge portion so that the portions 10, 14 and 13 will lie in a plane parallel with the portions 12, 16 and 20. Each of areas and 12' of the stamping lying between the portions 10 and 12 and the portions 12 and 16 respectively will have in general a semi-circular form WhICh This causes a loss of 3,231,215 Patented Jan. 25, 1966 dispenser in the proper position in the palm of the hand.

when the dispenser is being used. The next step is to form the portions 14 and 16 in an outwardly and downwardly position-along line 13 and. 15, respectively, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4; The portions 14 and 16 take a wing-like position relative to the side walls. The

final. step is to bend theportions ls along the areard so that the portion 18 is spaced from the portion: 14, and. in a parallel plane therewith. The portion 20 is likewise bent along the area-e which is spaced fromthe portion 16 and in a plane parallel therewith, as shown'in FIGURES- 2 and 4. The spaces 46 and 43- actually form a "single divided slot to receive a bendable suture package which The members 14,16, 18 and 201 will be referred to later. make upthis slot-carrying element for the bendable suture package. wherein an opening is left between-the two slots 46 and 48 through which the suturemay be-withdrawn from the center of the suture package (see FIGURE4). While these portions 13 and 2t) are-shownsecuredby the end areas 2 and d-positioned to one side ofthemembers Hand 16, they may bezsimilarly hinged at any other convenient place includingan area alongthe lower, outer side edges.

The portions 10 andlZ are provided with turned in. edges 17; and 19 for retaininga rigidreel suture package withinthe area between the sidewall portion 10 and .12 as shown in FIGURE 1A when thisreelis: being used in the dispenser.

The lateral. cylindrical portions: 10" and .12", shown best in FIGURES :1 and 3, are providedwith a means for keeping the cylindrical type reel in position when in use, which is shown-in the form of projections 21 and 23 extending inwardly into thecylindrical area, and will abut against the outer .endnof the reel .whenthe' reel'is properly inserted into the dispenser.

Therigidtype reel package shownin FIGURE 1A is generally constructed of a thin bendable material, such;

as from one of the well known plastics. This particular type reel is usually provided with a hub 26 and a central opening. 28 therethrough having an'outer surface 26. upon whichthe suture, 34 iswound.

The. cylindrical type package is normally provided with a cylinder 35 of some suitable .materiahsuch asplastic, paper, glass, etc., about which the-suture 34 is wound.

Another type of package is shown in FIGURE 4A and is constructed of a pliable bag-like envelope 33, generally of circular form, but may be of any other conventional form, such as, square, octagonal, etc. The envelope is generally constructed from a pliable transparent material such as a plastic, treated paper, etc. The envelope is provided with an opening 40 about which is a rigid ring like member or portion 42. The suture 34 is withdrawn through this ring encircled opening 40.

Referring again to the dispenser, the distance between the parallel side portions 10 and 12 of the dispenser, as may be easily seen in FIGURES 2 and 4, is such that when either the rigid reel shown in FIGURE 1A, or the cylindrical type reel as shown in FIGURE 3A, is resting normally within the dispenser it is free to be easily rotated. However, there is sufiicient clearance about the outer edges 17 and 19 of the dispenser to allow the parallel side portions 10 and 12 to be moved inwardly by applying pressure to the sides thereof to engage the The areas-10 and are each reels and act as a brake to regulate the tension on the suture when the suture is being unreeled.

The portions 14 and 18, as stated before, are so spaced as to form a narrow opening 46 therebetween. Also a similar opening 48 is formed between the members 16 and 20. These openings 46 and 48 provide a space to receive the bendable package, as shown in FIGURES 4A and 413. Before this suture package 38 is placed into the opening 46 and 48, it is partly folded along a line running through the center to conform with the angle of the openings, after which it is placed within the slots 46 and 48, as shown in dotted lines in FEGURE 4.

The two halves A and A" of the dispenser are connected only by the resilient hinge portion C, which connects the two halves adjacent their bottoms. The top of the dispenser is not connected in any manner, and there is adjacent its top an elongated opening 50, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 4 by the arrows 52. This opening is of sufiicient size as to allow the insertion of the rigid reel member to be inserted downwardly through the slot 50 to its final position between the side portions and 12 as illustrated in FIGURE 1. This spreading of the sides 10 and 12 also allows for the insertion of the cylindrical reel through the extended cylindrical opening formed by the portions 10 and 12'.

The opening 50 also centrally located between the slots 46 and 48 and is of such width as to allow the opening 40 of the package 38 to be unobstructed for the withdrawal of the suture.

The dispenser is usable with any of the type of suture packages shown plus many modifications thereof. The suture package when in use is always held safely within the dispenser unless definitely removed by the user. This places the suture package in a definite location, that is, in the dispenser where it may not be misplaced in the time of need. The dispenser is of such size that it fits snugly into the palm of the hand and is most convenient in most surgical sewing operations.

The dispenser may be constructed of many suitable materials such as stainless steel, plastic, silver, etc., and its design makes it both practical to use and economical to manufacture.

While the invention is illustrated in a specific form it is not intended as a limitation as to the scope of the invention which is best defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A suture dispenser for dispensing sutures from a suture package comprising, a housing having two closely spaced opposite parallel side walls for receiving a suture reel package, said sides being resiliently connected at their lower edge by a resilient hinge, said side walls being formed to provide an opening at the top thereof of such dimensions as to pass the suture package therethrough to the space between the side walls, the distance between the side walls being such that the reel may be clamped therebetween, by exerting pressure inwardly upon the said side walls, to provide friction on the reel to increase the tautness of the suture when the suture is being withdrawn, each of the side walls adjacent their respective upper ends are provided with a horizontal area of substantially semicircular form in cross section and of such size as to accommodate an elongated cylindrical suture reel.

2. A suture dispenser for dispensing sutures from a suture package formed from a single sheet of material comprising, identical side portions formed in parallel planes having inwardly internal edges extending at least about its lateral end portions for retaining the said suture package between the side portions, a resilient hinge portion connecting the two sides adjacent the bottom thereof, said upper portion of the side members formed to provide an opening therebetween to accommodate the passage of the suture package therethrough, the upper portions of each of the folded sides being formed outwardly and downwardly and at opposite acute angles to the respective side walls to which the upper portion is attached, said outwardly and downwardly formed upper side wall portions having a portion folded over the respective upper surfaces thereof, the last mentioned folded portions being spaced from the upper surfaces of the folded upper side portions to form a slot therebetween for receiving a bendable suture package.

3. A suture dispenser for dispensing sutures from a suture package comprising, a housing having two closely spaced opposite parallel side walls for receiving a suture reel package, said sides being resiliently connected at their lower edge by a resilient hinge, said side walls being formed to provide an opening at the top thereof of such dimensions as to pass the suture package therethrough to the space between the side walls, the distance between the side walls being such that the reel may be clamped therebetween, by exerting pressure inwardly upon the said side walls, to provide friction on the reel to increase the tautness of the suture when the suture is being withdrawn, said dispenser being provided with a slotted suture carrying element positioned at the top and carried by the side walls thereof for accommodating a bendable package,

said suture carrying element formed in two portions, one

on each side of the central top opening thereby providing a slot on each side of the central opening adapted to engage the lateral sides of the bendable suture package, the two portions of the slot carrying element forming an acute angle with the outer surface of the side walls on which it is carried.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

L. D. CHRISTIAN, Assistant Examiner. 

2. A SUTURE DISPENSER FOR DISPENSING SUTURES FROM A SUTURE PACKAGE FORMED FROM A SINGLE SHEET OF MATERIAL COMPRISING, IDENTICAL SIDE PORTIONS FORMED IN PARALLEL PLANES HAVING INWARDLY INTERNAL EDGES EXTENDING AT LEAST ABOUT ITS LATERAL END PORTIONS FOR RETAINING THE SAID SUTURE PACKAGE BETWEEN THE SIDE PORTIONS, A RESILIENT HINGE PORTION CONNECTING THE TWO SIDES ADJACENT THE BOTTOM THEREOF, SAID UPPER PORTION OF THE SIDE MEMBERS FORMED TO PROVIDE AN OPENING THEREBETWEEN TO ACCOMMODATE THE PASSAGE OF THE SUTURE PACKAGE THERETHROUGH, THE UPPER PORTIONS OF EACH OF THE FOLDED SIDES BEING FORMED OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY AND AT OPPOSITE ACUTE ANGLES TO THE RESPECTIVE SIDE WALLS TO WHICH THE UPPER PORTION IS ATTACHED, SAID OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY FORMED UPPER SIDE WALL PORTIONS HAVING A PORTION FOLDED OVER THE RESPECTIVE UPPER SURFACES THEREOF, THE LAST MENTIONED FOLDED PORTIONS BEING SPACED FROM THE UPPEWR SURFACES OF THE FOLDED UPPER SIDE PORTIONS TO FORM A SLOT THEREBETWEEN FOR RECEIVING A BENDABLE SUTURE PACKAGE. 